SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 21

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:28

20:28a–29b

In 20:28–29, Paul compared believers to sheep, church leaders to shepherds, and enemies of God to wolves. If possible, keep these metaphors in your translation. They are used elsewhere in the Bible.

20:28a

Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Keep watch means “be alert” or “give full attention.” In this verse Paul told the church elders to be like shepherds who are awake and carefully watching in order to protect the sheep. Here this clause indicates that the elders should be concerned about people with bad intent who might corrupt the good teaching they and their flock have received. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Be on your guard for yourselves and for all the flock (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock (English Standard Version)
-or-
Be vigilant over yourselves and the whole flock

Here the word flock is used figuratively for a group of believers. In some languages a literal translation would not refer to a group of believers. If that is true in your language, you may want to change it to a simile. For example:

Like shepherds guarding their sheep from harm, keep watch over yourselves and all God’s people
-or-
Keep watch over yourselves. As shepherds watch over and care for their sheep, watch over and take care of the people/churches

Also see note below.

flock: Literally, this word refers to a group of sheep or goats. Here the word is a metaphor for a group of believers. In some languages a literal translation would not refer to a group of believers. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate literally and explain the metaphor in your translation. For example:

flock, ⌊that is, the believers⌋

• Translate literally and explain the metaphor in a footnote. An example footnote is:

The word “flock ⌊of sheep⌋” refers here to believers. The Bible often compares believers to sheep.

• Translate the meaning of the metaphor. For example:

the believers

You may then want to tell what the literal word is in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Literally “flock ⌊of sheep⌋.” The Bible often compares believers to sheep.

• Translate literally and allow 20:28b–c to explain them.

In some languages flocks are allowed to roam around without anyone watching over them. If that is true in your language, you may want to translate the meaning of the metaphor, as above.

20:28b

the Holy Spirit: This phrase refers to the Spirit of God. See how you translated this phrase in 1:2 or 19:2.

overseers: This word refers to leaders who are responsible for a project, a business, or a group of people. When overseers are leaders of a church, they are responsible to lead and care for those people. Other ways to translate this word are:

guardians (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
leaders

20:28c

Be shepherds of the church of God: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Be shepherds:

(1) It indicates the purpose of the Holy Spirit making them overseers. For example:

to shepherd the church of God (New Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, Revised English Bible, NET Bible, God’s Word, English Standard Version, King James Version)

(2) It is a command. For example:

Be shepherds of the church of God (Berean Standard Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because that is the usual way to understand the Greek grammar here.

Be shepherds: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Be shepherds is a verb that describes the work of a shepherd. This work includes leading, feeding, and protecting sheep. Here it is a metaphor that refers to leading, teaching, and protecting believers.

In some languages a literal translation would not have the above meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate literally and explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

This refers to leading, teaching, and protecting believers, the church of God.

• Translate the metaphor as a simile. For example:

⌊care for⌋ the church of God ⌊like a⌋ shepherd ⌊cares for his sheep⌋

• Translate the meaning of the metaphor. For example:

care for (Revised Standard Version)

the church of God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as church usually refers to groups of believers who follow Jesus Christ. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

congregation of God
-or-
God’s people ⌊who live there⌋
-or-
the gathering of believers in God

See how you translated the word church in 5:11 or 20:17.

20:28d

which He purchased with His own blood: This clause tells the reader more about the church, the people of God. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there are other peoples of God and only this one was purchased with His own blood. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about the church. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

He bought the church with his own blood.

He: Here this word refers to God (20:28c).

purchased: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as purchased refers generally to someone getting something so that it belongs to him. Jesus’ death was the way that God obtained his people. It does not mean that God paid someone to buy his people. Other ways to translate this word are:

obtained (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
made his own (Good News Translation)
-or-
bought (New International Version)

with His own blood: There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase translated as with His own blood:

(1) It means with the blood of his own (Son). For example:

with the blood of his own Son (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, NET Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

(2) It means with his own blood. That is, the church was purchased at the price of God’s blood. For example:

Be shepherds of the church of God, which he purchased with His own blood. (Berean Standard Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Revised English Bible, English Standard Version, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because God is spirit and because of similar usage in 4:23, 24:23, and John 1:11.

blood: This word is a figure of speech for the death of Jesus. In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate literally and explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Here the word “blood” refers to death.

• Translate literally and explain its meaning in your translation. For example:

the blood of his own Son, ⌊that is, his death⌋
-or-
the blood of his own Son ⌊which he shed when he died on the cross⌋

• Translate the meaning of the figure of speech. For example:

death (New Century Version)
-or-
when Jesus died ⌊on the cross⌋

You should keep the word blood in your translation if at all possible, since this is such an important figure of speech in the Bible.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 21:22

21:22a

What then should we do?: The Greek words are literally “What, therefore/then, is/happens?” This question asks what should be done in response to the problem presented in 21:20–21. Other ways to translate this clause are:

What should be done, then? (Good News Translation)
-or-
So, what should happen next?

This question is a rhetorical question. In 21:23a–24d, the elders tell Paul what they thought that he should do. But the question does allow that Paul could do something else. You probably should translate this as a question.

But in some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to use a statement instead of a question. For example:

Something needs to be done.
-or-
We should do something.

21:22b

They will certainly hear that you have come: There is a textual issue here:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts have: they will certainly hear that you have come. For example:

They are sure to hear that you have arrived. (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, English Standard Version, New Century Version)

(2) Other Greek manuscripts have: A crowd certainly must gather, for they will hear that you have come. For example:

A crowd is sure to gather, for they will hear that you have come. (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), because the UBS Handbook Greek NT recommends it.

They: This word probably refers to the Jewish believers in Judea (21:20) here.

General Comment on 21:22a–b

The result (“What is to be done?”) is before the reason (“They are sure to hear that you have arrived”). In some languages the result should be last. For example:

They are sure to hear that you have arrived. What should be done, then? (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 22:15

22:15

A Greek conjunction that probably means “because” here introduces this verse. For example:

because… (New Jerusalem Bible)

Some English versions allow the context to imply the connection and omit the conjunction.

You will be His witness: This future tense indicates that, after Ananias spoke, Paul would testify about Jesus and his gospel. And that is what happened.

His: This pronoun probably refers to “the Righteous One” (22:14c).

witness: This word refers to a person who tells what he has seen, heard, or knows. Paul would tell others the good news about Jesus. Other ways to translate this word are:

one who speaks about what he knows
-or-
one who reports/explains

to everyone: This phrase indicates that Paul would speak about Jesus to both Jews and Gentiles. But Ananias spoke only in a general way here. You should not name Gentiles in your translation here.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 23:17

23:17a

called: Here the word called refers to asking someone to come. The centurion was not standing next to Paul, so he walked over to Paul when Paul asked to speak to him. Other ways to translate this word are:

summoned
-or-
asked to come

centurions: A “centurion” was an officer in the Roman army who usually led one hundred soldiers. Translate this word as you did in 10:1 or 22:25.

23:17b

Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him: This is a command, but the centurion understood it as a request (“asked me,” 23:18b). Paul was a Roman citizen, but he was under guard, so he could not demand that the centurion obey him.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate a demand. If that is true in your language, translate it as a polite request. For example:

Please take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.
-or-
Could you take this young man to the commander? He has something to tell him.

young man: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates young man here and in 23:18 and 23:22 refer to a young man between approximately sixteen and twenty-eight years old.

commander: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as commander means “leader of one thousand soldiers.” This kind of officer commanded six hundred to a thousand soldiers in the Roman army. See how you translated this word in 21:31 or 23:15.

he has something to tell him: The Greek conjunction that is often translated “for” introduces this clause. It introduces the reason for Paul telling the centurion to take his nephew to the commander. For example:

for he has something to tell him (Revised Standard Version)

The Berean Standard Bible uses a semi-colon (;) to indicate a connection but omits the conjunction. In some languages it is more natural to begin a new sentence here and imply the meaning of “for.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 24:14

24:14a

confess: The Greek word means “to say publicly that something is true.” (It does not imply being reluctant to say so.) Before this time Paul had not told Felix that he was a Christian. But at this time Paul told him in front of everyone at this meeting that he was a Christian. Other ways to translate this word are:

acknowledge
-or-
avow

24:14b

I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way: This clause indicates that Paul worshiped the traditional God of the Jews but in a new manner, namely, according to the Way. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I worship the God of our ancestors by following that Way (Good News Translation)
-or-
I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way of Jesus. (New Century Version)
-or-
I similarly worship God whom our ⌊Jewish⌋ ancestors also worshiped ⌊but⌋ as one who follows the Way

worship: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as worship refers to doing religious duties. This includes praying, worship, and doing the work that God has given to someone. Paul served God in prayer, worship, doing the work of an apostle, helping others, and in other ways. For example:

serve (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
obey

See how you translated this word in 7:7.

the God of our fathers: The Greek words are literally “the ancestral God.” The word “ancestral” refers to previous generations as far back as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For example:

the God of our ancestors (Good News Translation)

according to the Way: This phrase in Greek is literally “according to the road/way.” The Berean Standard Bible translates this Greek phrase literally. This Way refers to faith in Jesus as the Christ and living as Christians. Christians referred to themselves as “followers of the Way.” In some languages a literal translation is too general and would not specifically refer to faith in Jesus as the Christ. If so, you may want to:

• Explain it in your translation. For example:

as a follower of the Way of Jesus (New Century Version)
-or-
as a follower of the Way ⌊of faith in Jesus⌋

• Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:

This “Way” refers to faith/believing in Jesus as the Christ.

See how you translated the word Way in 9:2 or 22:4.

24:14c

which they call a sect: This clause tells the reader more about the Christian beliefs that Paul called “the Way” in 24:14b. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there are other Christian “Ways” and the Jews only called this one a sect. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about the “Way.” One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

⌊But⌋ they call it a sect.

they: The pronoun they refers to the Jewish leaders (24:12a, 13). It does not refer to the Jewish ancestors (24:14b).

sect: This word refers to a group that has different beliefs from what is usually accepted as correct beliefs. It implies that they have separated themselves from the main group. See how you translated this word in 24:5.

24:14d–e

everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets: The phrase “the Law and…the Prophets” refers to the whole Old Testament.

24:14d

everything that is laid down by the Law: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as laid down by is literally “according to.” All that Paul believes about Jesus as the Christ follows what the Law of Moses and the books of the prophets say.

Other ways to translate this phrase are:

everything that is in accordance with the Law (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
everything that agrees with the Law (New International Version)
-or-
everything written in the Law of Moses (Good News Translation)

the Law: The word Law refers here to the first five books of the Old Testament. They have in them the laws that God gave to Moses. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer to the laws of your country. If that is true in your language, indicate the correct meaning. For example:

the Law of Moses (Good News Translation)
-or-
our ⌊Jewish⌋ law

24:14e

and written in the Prophets: This clause in Greek is literally “and the things written in the prophets.” Other ways to translate this clause are:

and in what is written in the prophets (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
and the books of the prophets (Good News Translation)
-or-
and the Prophets (God’s Word)
-or-
and what the prophets wrote

Paul probably implied here that he believed that the books of the Prophets were Scripture. The Pharisees believed that too. But the Jewish leaders at this time were Sadducees, who believed that only the Law of Moses was Scripture.

Prophets: A “prophet” is a person who receives messages from God. The message from God may be in words or visions. It may reveal something about a past, present, or future event, or it may reveal someone’s thoughts, motives, or attitudes. It is not like a sermon, prepared by the preacher’s study of the Bible, but God may inspire a preacher with a prophecy during a sermon.

Here the word refers to the prophets of the Old Testament. Some ways to translate it are:

Spokespeople for God
-or-
those who speaks/brings God’s message/words

See how you translated this word in 21:10.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 25:19

25:19a

They only had some contentions with him: The phrase some contentions refers to topics that Paul and the Jews disagreed about. Other ways to translate this clause are:

All they had were some arguments (Good News Translation)
-or-
they had certain points of disagreement (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
they argued with him (Contemporary English Version)

their own religion: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as religion can also mean “superstition.” The word “superstition” mocks those beliefs as wrong. But Festus probably intended the meaning that did not mock the Jewish religion, because Agrippa had an official connection to the Jewish religion. The Greek word often refers to beliefs that are different from the beliefs that the speaker holds. Paul used a similar Greek word in 17:22b (“very religious”). Other ways to translate this word are:

the beliefs that they hold
-or-
the things they themselves believe
-or-
what they themselves believe about their God

25:19b

a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive: Festus knew that Jesus had died, but also heard Paul talk about God resurrecting Jesus. The Romans, in their own religion, did not believe in resurrection. Other ways to translate this are:

about a man named Jesus, who has died; but Paul claims that he is alive (Good News Translation)
-or-
a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
about a man named Jesus who died. But Paul said that he is still alive (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 26:24

Paragraph 26:24

26:24a

At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul: It was acceptable for Festus to interrupt Paul, because Festus ruled over the meeting. Your translation should not indicate or imply that Festus was being rude when he interrupted. For example:

At this point Festus ⌊as governor/leader⌋ interrupted Paul’s defense

Paul’s defense: Here the word defense refers to Paul explaining his actions (26:4–22) and explaining the gospel of Jesus (26:23). Paul was not on trial at this time. Your translation should not indicate or imply that Paul was on trial in a court. For example:

Paul as he explained himself

Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul: The Berean Standard Bible places the phrase Festus exclaimed before what Festus began to say. In some languages it is more natural to have the phrase Festus exclaimed last. For example:

“You are insane, Paul!” Festus exclaimed

Festus exclaimed in a loud voice: This clause in Greek is literally “he says in a loud voice.” Neither the Greek or the English implies that Festus was angry. Do not imply that Festus was angry. For example:

he said loudly

You are insane, Paul: The term of address occurs in the middle of the spoken words. In some languages, it is more natural to put the term of address first. For example:

Paul, you are insane!

You are insane: The Greek clause here can refer to:

(1) being crazy or insane;

(2) being so excited/enthusiastic about something that the person no longer thinks clearly about other things.

Either meaning is possible here. Festus was Roman and would likely believe that anyone who believed in resurrection not to be thinking clearly or worse. Other ways to translate this clause are:

You are talking crazy talk!
-or-
you’re crazy! (Contemporary English Version)

26:24b

Your great learning is driving you to madness!: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as driving means “change from one thing to another.” Festus believed here that Paul’s great learning was changing Paul from a reasonable person into a crazy one. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Too much learning causes you to talk crazy talk!
-or-
Too much study has made you crazy! (New Living Translation (2004))

is driving you to madness!: The present tense indicates that Festus thought that Paul was in the process of becoming insane. For example:

is making you crazy
-or-
is causing you to become insane

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 27:24

27:24a

Do not be afraid, Paul: In the Greek and the Berean Standard Bible, the term of address is in the middle of the spoken words. In some languages, it is more natural to have the term of address first. For example:

Paul, do not be afraid.

you must stand before Caesar: This clause in Greek is literally “It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar.” God had already promised that Paul would stand before Caesar and defend himself against the accusations of the Jews. So here the angel indicated that the promise will be fulfilled. Other ways to translate this clause are:

You must stand trial before Caesar (New International Version)
-or-
you will surely stand trial before Caesar! (New Living Translation (2004))

Caesar: was the family name of the first five Roman emperors. The last, Nero, was ruling at this time. He was the leader of the Romans and all the people groups that the Romans had conquered. See how you spelled this word in 17:7.

27:24b

And look: The Greek word the Berean Standard Bible translates as look here occurs after the Greek word translated as And and emphasizes the following clause. Other ways to translate the Greek phrase are:

and indeed, (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
What’s more, (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
and listen/hey,

God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you: The Greek word the Berean Standard Bible translates as granted you refers to doing something kind or favoring someone. God was kind to Paul by allowing all the people on the ship to reach the shore safely. Other ways to translate this clause are:

God in his goodness to you has spared the lives of all those who are sailing with you. (Good News Translation)
-or-
God grants you the safety of all who are sailing with you. (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
God, as a mark of his favour towards you, has granted you the lives of those who are sailing with you. (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021